Breaking Through Eighth Rank

When Gu Chang'an and Li Hongye returned to the Sky Wind Martial Hall with the medicinal herbs, The sky had already darkened, and the night curtain fell heavily like ink.

The disciples of the martial hall had long since dispersed, and the training ground was empty.

The aroma of food wafted from the kitchen.

Xie Lanzhi, dressed in simple and elegant clothes, was busy by the stove, while Wang Xiaojuan helped her.

Li Tianfeng was holding a bowl of rice, tasting it as he cautioned her not to overwork herself.

"You're back?" Li Tianfeng looked up and saw the two, putting down his chopsticks and smiling.

"We're back, Master," Gu Chang'an replied, putting down the medicinal herbs in his hand.

Xie Lanzhi looked back at the medicine bag and blinked in surprise, "You bought so much medicine??"

Gu Chang'an said in a deep voice, "Master, Mistress, I'm going to attempt to break through to Eighth Rank."

As soon as he spoke, the table fell silent.

Li Tianfeng's chopsticks paused, his eyebrows rose, and a look of unconcealed shock appeared on his face.

"What did you say?"

"I'm preparing to go into seclusion to attempt Eighth Rank."

Li Tianfeng stared at him for a long while, then finally let out a long breath and slowly sat down:

"I had thought for a long time that your progress was incredibly fast, your qi and blood so thick, and your meridians so wide, far surpassing ordinary people... I just didn't expect it to be so soon."

Xie Lanzhi was also surprised to hear this, but then she smiled:

"Chang'an, for you to go further is a blessing for our martial hall."

The few of them sat around the table, eating simple home-style dishes. Although there were no delicacies, in this dimly lit courtyard, there was a unique warmth and tranquility.

After dinner, Xie Lanzhi cleared the dishes, and Li Tianfeng patted Gu Chang'an on the shoulder:

"Let me know when you go into seclusion, I'll help you guard."

"Okay," Gu Chang'an nodded.

Afterward, he took Wang Xiaojuan back to the old house.

"Xiaojuan, we're moving. We'll move tomorrow," he said softly.

Wang Xiaojuan, who had just taken off her shoes, was stunned. She looked up and blinked, "Okay."

Gu Chang'an looked at her and pondered for a moment:

"Do you... have anything you want to say?"

Wang Xiaojuan tilted her head, thought for a moment, and replied earnestly:

"No, Brother Gu, I'll go wherever you go."

Hearing this, Gu Chang'an couldn't help but smile, a hint of warmth and pity in his eyes.

"We're moving next to the Sky Wind Martial Hall. It's closer to your Master and Mistress too."

Wang Xiaojuan's eyes lit up:

"That's great!"

Gu Chang'an nodded.

He had seen it long ago, Wang Xiaojuan had no attachment to this place at all.

Here, she only had memories of hardship.

Her parents died in a sudden accident, she had been bullied and oppressed, and her only grandfather had hanged himself.

This place had never brought her any warmth, only coldness and humiliation.

Moving was not just about changing residences; it was more like severing the past and starting anew.

The next day, Gu Chang'an took Wang Xiaojuan to move.

Many of the neighbors were reluctant to see Gu Chang'an leave, but they also blessed him with a new life.

Five consecutive days.

Inside the Sky Wind Martial Hall, Gu Chang'an was almost always indoors.

He cultivated in the morning, meditated in the afternoon, took medicinal baths in the evening, and practiced breathing exercises at night.

He poured all his time and energy into the crucial juncture of attempting Eighth Rank.

This night.

Inside the Sky Wind Martial Hall, in a stone room, steam rose, and the medicinal fragrance was strong.

Gu Chang'an sat cross-legged in a wooden tub, the water filled with bloodstains and broken medicinal dregs, scalding hot.

The medicinal ingredients churned within his body, and the medicinal power of the pills surged through his meridians.

The blood energy within his body grew more potent, and with each circulation of the Iron Cloth Shirt, he could feel his bones and muscles emitting dull yet powerful cracking sounds.

Gradually, his entire body turned a deep red, his skin like iron quenched in fire, with impurities constantly being forced out from his skin's surface.

He gritted his teeth, fully activating his qi and blood to break through the bottleneck.

Suddenly, his mind jolted, and a thunderous roar erupted within him!

"BOOM!"

His bones vibrated, his meridians swelled, his sea of consciousness trembled, and an unprecedented surge of power gushed out, like a great river entering the sea, flowing endlessly.

"Hahahahahaha--!"

Gu Chang'an's hearty laughter echoed from the room, filled with unconcealable exhilaration.

Eighth Rank!

He had finally reached Eighth Rank!

Outside the courtyard, Li Tianfeng heard the laughter, stroked his beard, smiled, and gazed at the sky, sighing with emotion:

"Truly, heroes emerge in droves... the younger generation pushes the older, and the older ones are left on the beach..."

Xie Lanzhi stood beside him, her eyes complex yet tinged with relief:

"Chang'an's talent is truly exceptional. I've never seen such speed."

"This isn't just good, it's monstrous."

Li Hongye also stood nearby, her tone filled with genuine admiration.

She hadn't been slacking off these past few days either.

She had been cooperating with medicinal baths for body refinement daily, followed by taking Body Tempering Pills and Qi Circulation Powder. Her cultivation had indeed improved significantly, and her qi and blood were much more solidified than before.

She could feel her physique strengthening, her punches hitting harder, and her movements becoming faster.

If Gu Chang'an were to check her panel right now, he would find that her Constitution had increased to 288, putting her not far from Eighth Rank.

Such progress would be astonishing for anyone else, but compared to Gu Chang'an...

the gap remained like a chasm.

However, she wasn't discouraged; instead, she felt a sense of excitement.

Having such a monstrous fellow disciple beside her was both pressure and motivation.

"What a monstrous junior brother," Li Hongye whispered, a slight curve on her lips, "Once his medicinal bath is over, I want to spar with him properly."

Xie Lanzhi chuckled, "Aren't you afraid of getting beaten?"

"Even getting beaten is fine," Li Hongye looked up at the stone house emanating medicinal fragrance, her eyes bright, "At least it will let me know how much further I have to go."

At this moment, Gu Chang'an was opening his System to check his personal information.

[Name: Gu Chang'an]
[Lifespan: 23 years 3 months]
[Identity: Constable (Minor Official)]
[Realm: Eighth Rank]
[Constitution: 525 (+4/day)]
[Cultivation Techniques: Mountain Shattering Saber Technique (Yellow Grade Mid Rank, Proficient/+), Green Lotus Poison Scripture (Yellow Grade, Adept/+), Iron Cutting Saber Technique (Yellow Grade Low Rank, Proficient), Complete Iron Cloth Shirt (Yellow Grade High Rank, Proficient/+), Flowing Wind Steps (Yellow Grade Low Rank, Mastered), Mountain Shattering Fist (Yellow Grade Low Rank, Adept/+), Archery (Mortal Grade, Adept/+)]

He was Eighth Rank now.

His Constitution had reached 525.

This value was close to that of a late-stage Eighth Rank martial artist.

Therefore, he could now be considered someone of importance in Nanning County.

Looking at this data panel, Gu Chang'an couldn't help but sigh...

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